1. Pre-paid cards and Direct Payments in East Sussex
Laura Salter - Project Manager, Adult Social Care

2. What will this presentation cover?
Background
What is a high balance?
The high balance project
Projections and on-going work

3. Background
ESCC implemented pre-paid cards for Direct Payments in November 2013
Approx. 500 clients have a self managed pre-paid card
Approx. 500 have an ESCC managed account via a virtual card account
Approx. 500 have a 3rd party managed account

4. What is a high balance?
Card account data enables us to see which accounts are running high and which a running low
ESCC pays four weeks in advance, anything below 4 weeks is a low balance
A high balance for ESCC managed accounts is 8 weeks
A high balance for client managed accounts is 12 weeks
The report flags accounts that need to be investigated for potential underspend, overspend, safeguarding, non payment of client contribution, need for a review

5. The high balance project
Once the report which showed the number of weeks in accounts was being used it was clear to see the large number of clients with high balances:

6. The high balance project
At the start of the project it was identified that there was approx. 1.3 million in the accounts that was above 8 to 12 weeks.
It was quickly agreed that a project officer would be appointed on a one year contract to recall the excess funds. They have also been tasked with stablishing how to move forward with high balances to ensure this falls into business as usual.

7. The project to date…..
£786, has been recalled across 207 accounts, leaving 8/12 week’s balance + extra where required
£845, excess still sits in 201 accounts – Minus any extra balance that will be required to be left (approx. 15% of total value)
As it stands we are looking to recall a total of £1,505, across all 408 accounts (allowing for exceptional cases)
All accounts that have had a recall have been referred for review, if they continue to accumulate a high balance again after a 2 month follow-up.
20% of accounts get referred, altered and subsequently undergo a second recall.

8. Project Overview of Figures (as of 8th March 2017)
482 clients hold a Client Managed Card Account, of these;
71 have a balance between 0 – 3 weeks’ worth of Direct Payment
100 have a balance between 4 – 8 weeks’ worth of Direct Payment
96 have a balance between 9 – 12 weeks’ worth of Direct Payment
215 have a balance of 13+ weeks’ worth of Direct Payment

10. Projections
4 months into the project our list was updated and 101 new excess balances were added totalling £245,064.68
Based on the number of accounts accumulating a surplus after just 4 months, we are looking at £735, accumulating in excess per year – or £2, per day (minus 15% to allow for special cases) - That’s £1, in excess per day if left unmanaged
The project is due to end in July 17 and a recommendation of a proportionate level of resource will be made to continue to manage the high balance accounts